Machine for setting up collapsed paperboard boxes



Oct. 6, 1959 D. L. OWENS 2,907,252

MACHINE FOR SETTING up COLLAPSED PAPERBQARD BOXES Filed Sept. 25, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q &

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Donald L. Owens INVENTOR.

Oct. 6, 1959 D. 1.. OWENS 2,907,252

MACHINE FOR SETTING UP COLLAPSED PAPERBOARD BOXES Filed Sept. 23, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Donald L. Owens INVENTOR.

BY WWW 16m D. L. OWENS MACHINE FOR SETTING UP COLLAPSED PAPERBOARD BOXES v 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 23, 1955 D ona/dL. Owens INVEN TOR. By Mm all Oct. 6, 1959 D. 1.. OWENS 2,907,252

MACHINE FOR SETTING up COLLAPSED PAPERBOARD BOXES Filed Sept. 23, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Donald L. Owens IN V EN TOR.

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United States Patent ()fice 2,907,252 Patented Oct. 6, 1959 MACHINE FUR SETTING UP COLLAPSED PAPERBOARD BOXES Donald L. Owens, Warren, Pa. Application September 23, 1955, Serial No. 536,238 11 Claims. or. 93-49 This invention generally relates 'to folding machines and more specifically provides a machine for setting up cardboard or paperboard boxes which are normally disposed in a collapsed position.

.In various industries, articles :that have been manufactured are sometimes shipped in individual cardboard containers. This is especially prevalent in the mail order business where the manufactured article is shipped directly from the manufacturer to the consumer, thereby necessitating the provision of a paperboard box which is relatively strong and which is relatively simple to assemble in closed position to enable efiicient operation. Normally, these paperboard boxes include a body panel and erect end and side walls. These boxes are received in collapsed position with the side walls folded inwardly against the main body .panel and theend walls either extending outwardly or folded to overlying relation to a portion of the main body panel. In setting up these boxes, it is necessary that the side walls of the collapsed box be grasped and folded upwardly to an erect position after which the end walls are folded upwardly and inwardly to an erect position with a portion of the end wall being disposed against the inner surface of the erected end wall between the ends of the side walls thereby retaining the end walls and side walls in erected position. The bottoms and tops of these boxes are constructed in a similar manner thereby necessitating two operations in setting up a single box and this particular setting up operation when done by hand consumes a relatively long period of time and expenditure of large sums of money for labor. Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a machine which will set up boxes from a blank which includes the entire construction of the top or bottom of the box which is disposed in a collapsed manner where the side and end walls will be automatically erected and the erected box will then be discharged-from the machine and the initial blank being fed to the machine one at a time thereby eliminating the hand setting up operation and the time and labor expended therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a box erecting machine having adjustable features wherein boxes within certain limits of size may be set up in the machine by interchanging certain features thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine as set forth in the preceding objects having cam operated and spring urged means for-setting up the side and end walls together with cam means for raising and lowering a discharge conveyor in relation to a supporting platform wherein all of the cam mechanism is actuated from a single shaft thereby providing all of the operations on the box in sequential manner thereby assuring proper erection thereof.

Other important objects of the present invention will be its relative simplicity of construction, efliciency in .op-

eration, adaptability to its particular purposes and its relatrvely inexpensive operating and maintenance cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a top plan viewof the machine of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the construction of Figure 1 with portions broken away illustrating the drive mechanism for the machine;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane passing along section line 3-3 of Figure 1 illustrating certain details of construction of the device;

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along section line 4-4 of Figure 1 illustrating the details of the conveyor, its drive means and the means for raising and lowering thereof;

Figure 5 is a plan sectional view taken substantially uc-on a plane passing along section line 55 of Figure 4 illustrating further structural details of the conveyor for dischargingthe completed boxes;

Figure 6 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing'along section line 6-6 of Figure 1 illustrating the details of the feeding mechanism together with the interconnection-between the feed mechanism;

,Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of the cutter plate and the body formed thereon for separating the lowest box from thenext adjacent box;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the cutter plate of Figure 7 illustrating the eccentricity of the plate on the rotatable shaft;

Figure 9 .is .a generally schematic sectional view with portions omitted taken substantially on section line 9-9 of Figure .1 illustrating the cam operated means for ,actuating the outer section of the end plates;

Figure 10 is a detailed sectional view takensubstantially upon a plane passing along section line 110 of Figure 9 illustrating the details of construction of the gear mechanism and the;actuating link therefor;

Figure 11 is a schematic sectional view taken substantially uponla plane passing along section line l111 illustrating the cam actuated :means for initially raising the end plates to a vertical position forfolding the end wall vertically upwardly;

Figure 12 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a -plane passing:along section line l2-.l2 of Figure 4 illustrating the pivotal attachment of the conveyor frame;

Figure 13 is a detailed view of the side .wall engaging members taken substantially along the reference line 1313 of Figure 3 showing the details of the side wall engaging hooked end plates;

Figure '14 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along line 14,1 4 of Figure 3 illustrating the pivotal attachment of the side -wall lengaging'plates;

Figure 15 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially uponaplane passing along section line 15-45 of Figure '3 illustrating the construction of thepivotal attachment of the actuating link for the side wall engaging members;

Figure 16 is a top plan view of one form of the-col lapsed box'tobe set up by the present machine;

Figure 17 is aside elevational view of the construction of Figure 16 with the initial operation being partially completed;

Figure 18 is a transverse sectional viewof the'box illustrating the relationship of the hooked end plates engaging the inner edges of the side walls and moving the same upwardly and moving the outer end walls upwardly;

Figure 19 illustrates a partial longitudinal sectional view of the box wherein the side walls have been moved to an erect position and the end wall is upwardly inclined prior to movement of the end wall engaging plates;

Figure 20 is a sectional view similar to Figure 19 illustrating the movement of the end wall engaging plates to a vertical position for moving the complete end wall to the vertical position; and

Figure 2l is a sectional view similar to Figure 19 illus-, trating the last step in forming the end wall wherein the outer flap of the end wall is folded in overlying relation to the inner flap and in engagement with the inner surface of the side walls for retaining the end and side walls in erect position.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the box erecting machine of the present invention for erecting a paperboard box from a collapsed position wherein a stack of paperboard boxes are provided in collapsed position and are generally designated by the numeral 12.

Referring now specifically to Figures 16-21 of the drawings, it will be seen that each of the collapsed boxes genera ly designated by the numeral 12 includes a main body panel 14- with side walls 16 of double-thickness material since the side walls have an inner fiap 18 lying alongside and inwardly of the outer flap. These side walls 16 are normally disposed against the upper surface of the main body panel 14. Attached to the main body panel 14 are end walls generally designated by the numeral 20 and inc ude an inner section or flap 22 attached to the main body panel along a fold line 24, an outer flap or section 26 attached to the inner flap 22 along a fold line 28 and a locking flap 30 on the outer edge of the outer flap 26. The outer flap 26 of the end wall 20 is provided on each side edge thereof a locking tab 32. The side walls 16 are each provided with extensions 34 having a diagonal fold line 36 formed therein with the portion of the extension 34 remote from the side wall 16 being glued to the inner fiap 22 of the end wall 20 and the portion of the extension 34 between the side wall 16 and the fold line 36 being free so that when the inner edges of the side walls 16 are grasped and moved outwardly. the end walls will move to an upwardly and outwardly inclined position substantially as illustrated in Figure 17. In order to lock the side walls 16 and the end walls 20 in perpendicular relation to each other and in perpendicular relation to the main body panel 14, the end walls 20 are sequentially moved to a vertical position as illustrated in Figure 20 and the outer flap 26 is then folded inwardly into overlying relation alongside of the inner flap 22 substantially as illustrated in Figure 21 wherein the locking flap 30 will engage the inner surface of the main body panel 14 and the locking tabs 32 will engage the inner surface of the vertical side walls 16 thereby securely locking the side walls 16 and the end walls 20 in erected position.

It will be understood that the boxes are so constructed that the tops are slightly larger than the bottoms thereby permitting telescopic engagement of the tops with the bottoms for securing the tops and bottoms together for shipping purposes. The corner construction also provides a relatively rigid box which is reinforced and is relatively strong to prevent crushing during shipment thereof.

Referring now specifically to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, the machine of the present invention includes a supporting stand generally designated by the numeral 38 having a flat supporting platform 40 at the upper end thereof together with depending corner legs 42 which are interconnected by suitable brace means 44 adjacent the lower end thereof for forming a rigid supporting stand 38. The lower ends of the legs 42 are provided 4 with supporting surface engaging feet 46 for forming an adequate support for the machine 10.

Secured to the upper surface of the supporting platform 40 is a plurality of vertically disposed guide members 48 which are of angle iron construction and are supported by bracket members 50. The angle iron vertical guide members 48 face each other and form corners of a rectangular area which is generally similar in shape and size to the collapsed cardboard box blanks wherein a plurality of the cardboard box blanks 12 may be supported between and guided by the vertical guide members 48.

The supporting stand 38 may be provided with side closure members 52 enclosing the area between the plat-- form 40 to prevent accidental injury due to contact with the various working parts of the machine. This provides a safe as well as attractive machine and it will be understood that the closure plates 52 may be easily removed for inspection, repair or replacement of any of the parts.

Disposed under the supporting platform 40 and spaced remotely therefrom is a main drive motor 54 supported on a suitable inverted channel-shaped bracket 56 wherein the motor 54 may be any conventional electric motor which is provided with a reduction gear 58 having a drive shaft 60 extending therethrough with a V-belt pulley 62 mounted thereon for receiving and encircling the V-belt 64 which encircles a V-belt pulley 66 which is vertically disposed therefrom and which is mounted on a transversely disposed main driveshaft 68 wherein the main driveshaft is journalled in suitable ball bearings 70 mounted in supporting brackets 72 on the side plates.

52. If desired, a chain drive may be used.

Disposed in spaced relation on each side of the transverse shaft 68 and disposed vertically thereabove is a pair of transverse shafts 74 and 76 which are journalled in sleeve bearings 78 on the lower end of depending brackets 80 mounted on the undersurface of the supporting platform 40. Each of the shafts 74 and 76 are provided with a sprocket gear 82 which is in alignment with a drive sprocket gear 84 on the main transverse drive shaft 68 and a sprocket chain 86 encircles the drive. sprocket gear 84 and the driven sprocket gear 82 on the transverse shafts 74 and 76. An idler sprocket gear 88 is provided which is encircled by the sprocket chain 86 wherein the idler sprocket gear 88 may be adjusted for varying the tension on the sprocket chain 86 to assure that the sprocket gears 82 and 74 and 76 will rotate in timed relation. It will be noted that the sprocket chain 86 passes upwardly over the sprocket gear 82 mounted on the shaft 74 on the outer surface thereof and encircles upwardly over the inner surface of the sprocket gear 82 mounted on the shaft 76 thereby rotating the shafts 74' sleeve bearing 96 which is in the form of a thrust bearing and the lower sleeve bearing 96 is provided with a thrust washer 106 wherein vertical reciprocation of the vertical shafts 94 is prevented and it also will be noted that the supporting platform 40 is provided with openings 108 to permit passage of the vertical shafts 94.

The vertical shafts are so supported that they defined the rectangular area of which the upstanding angle iron 1 brackets 48 form the corners wherein the cardboard blanks 12 are disposed between the vertically upstanding shafts 94.

Referring now specifically to Figures 68, it will be Jetseen that the numeral 110 generally designates a feeding mechanism which is mounted on the upper end of each ofthe shafts 94 wherein -a single cardboard blank 12 is fed downwardly onto the platform 40 and the speed of the feeding of the single blanks is such that one blank will be folded and discharged from the machine prior to deposit of the second blank onto the platform '40. As illustrated in Figure 1, and since the transverse shafts 74 and 76 rotate in opposite directions, the shafts 94 rotate inwardly with the aligned pair of shafts rotating in opposite directions substantially as indicated by the arrows in'Figure 1.

Each of the feeding means generally designated by the numeral 110 is identical and is supported on the upper end of the vertical shafts 94. A generally circular supportingplate 112 having a hub portion 114 is mounted on the shaft 94 in non-rotative relation and the circular support plate 112 is provided with a flat sided portion 116 wherein the support plate 112 is of such a size that the circular portion will extend inwardly when the circular portions face each other across the machine and will support a box blank 12 while the fiat sided portions 116 when they are facing each other will permit the box blank to drop to the platform 40.

Disposed above the supporting plate 112 is a cutter plate 118 having a cylindrical hub 120 immovably secured to the shaft 94 by a setscrew 122. The cutter plate 118 is provided with a beveled peripheral edge 124 and is provided with a stand-off shoulder 126 on the lower surface thereof which spaces the beveled edge 124 of the cutter plate 118 from the upper surface of the support plate 112. As illustrated in Figure -8, the hub 120 of the cutter plate 118 is disposed eccentrically of the cutter plate 118 wherein the major portion of the cutter plate 118 is disposed in alignment with the flat sided portion 116 of the support plate 112 substantially as illustrated in Figure 1. The cylindrical hub 120 of the cutter plate 118 is provided with an elongated slot 128 and a cylindrical member 130 having a cylindrical recessed portion 132 is disposed over the upper end of the shaft 94 in telescopic engagement over the cylindrical hub portion 120 wherein the slot 128 permits the member 130 to be keyed to cutter 118. The upper end of the cylindrical member 130 is inwardly tapered as designated by the numeral 134 wherein a centering action is provided so that the box blanks 12 will be centered between the feed mechanisms 110.

it will be understood that each of the feed mechanisms 110 is identical and as illustrated in Figure 8, the bevel peripheral edge 124 of the cutter plate 118 is provided with an omitted or recessed portion designated by the numeral 136 for a purpose to be described.

In operation of the feeding mechanism 110, the vertical shafts 94 are rotated at the same speed in the manner as set forth by the arrows in Figure 1 wherein the stack of cardboard box blanks are positioned thereon. Assuming that the members are oriented as illustrated in Figures 1 and 6, the box blanks 12 are supported on the upper surface of the cutter plates 118. As the cutter plates 118 rotate, the major portion of the cutter plates 118 will be disposed outwardly of the area between the shafts 94 wherein the minor portion of the cutter plate 118 will permit the downward movement of the stack of blanks 12 onto the upper surface of the circular portion of the support plate 112. As the cutter plate 118 continues to rotate, the bevel edge 124 will be inserted between the lowest box blank 12 and the next to the lowest box blank 12 for separating the lowest box blank from the next to the lowest box blank. The thickness of the offset 126 on the lower end of the cutter plate 118 is substantially equal to the thickness of each of the box blanks 12 so that the sharpened bevel edge 124 of the cutter plate 118 will normally be inserted between the lowest and next to the lowest box blank with no damage thereto. In the event the box blanks are not exactly equal in thickness, the omitted portion 136 of the cutter plate 118 is undercut so that the beveled edge 124 will force the edge of the box blank 12 upwardly or downwardly so that the peripheral edge 124 will be inserted therebetween without cutting damage to the side edge of the box blank which would sometime occur if the peripheral edge 124 defined a complete circle. As the plate 118 continues to rotate, the plate 118 will support the remainder 'of the box blanks and when the flat sided portion 116 of the support plate 112 face inwardly, the blank 12 will fall down} wardly. Accordingly, it will be seen that the feeding mechanism is so timed and constructed that a single box blank 12 will be fed onto the upper surface of the platform 40 and the operation of the feeding mechanisms 110 is timed to the operation of the other mechanism' so that the platform 40 will be empty when the single blank is deposited thereon since all of the operating mechanism is driven from the "single transverse driving shaft 68.

After the box blank 12 has been deposited on the plan form 411, the firs-t step in erecting the box is 'to move the inner edges of the side walls 16 upwardly and outwardly to a perpendicular relation to the main body panel 14. In order to do this, side wall moving means generally designated by the numeral 140 is provided and is best illustrated in Figure 3.

Similar means 140 for engaging the side walls 16 is employed on both sides of the platform 40 and are so disposed so that when they are in normal position, the box blank 12 may descend therebetween and engage the upper surface of the supporting platform 40 as guided by the upstanding guide members 48.

Each of the side wall engaging means 140 includes 'an L-shaped bracket 142 disposed adjacent an enlarged opening 144 in the supporting platform 40 which supports an eye 146 on pivot pin 148 atthe free end of the horizontal arm of the L-shaped bracket 142. The upper end of the arm 146 is provided with an enlarged T-headed portion 150. Attached to'the T-headed portion 150 by a transverse pin 152 is a generally triangular sh aped plate 154 which extends from a base portion 156 with diverging side edges 153 terminating in an elongated free hooked edge 166. The plate 154 normally extends inwardly in an upwardly inclined relation and the plates 154 of the oppositely disposed mechanism 140 face each other and will move inwardly and outwardly of the area between the mechanisms 14%) when the arm 146 is pivoted about the mounting pivot pin 148. The arm 146 extends beyond the pivot pin 148 and is connected to a link 162 by pivot pin 164. The link 162 is adjustable for adjusting the scope of movement of the arms 146. The free end of the link 162 is connected by pivot pin 166 to *a pivot lever 168 mounted on a pivot pin 170 attached to the lower end of the vertical leg of the supporting bracket 142. It Will be understood that the pins supporting the various pivotal elements, such .as 148 and 170 are provided with suitable sleeve bearings 172.

The lever 168 is provided with a projection 174 between the pivot pin 170 and the pivot pin 166 to which a tension coil spring 176 is attached With the other end of the tensionspring 176 being attached to a screwthreaded member 173 mounted on the side walls 52 or the depending supporting brackets 180 which support the bearings 70 for the main driveshaft 68.

Disposed at the bottom end of the lever 168 on the opposite side of the pivot pin 170 in relation to the spring 176 and the pivot 166 is disposed a cam follower 182 in the form of a roller which rotates about a longitudinal axis of the pivot lever 168 for pivoting the lever 168 about pivot pin 170 thereby rocking the arm 146 about pivot pin 148.

Mounted on the drive shaft 68 is 'a pair of side cam members generally designated by the numeral 184 indicating a circular disk portion 186 with the hub 188 secured to the shaft '68 by a suitable setscrew or the like.

The diskportion 186 is provided with a side cam member 190 in the form of a lateral projection having s moothly curved riser portions 192 wherein. the roller 182 will move laterally in relation to the cam 184 as the shaft 68 rotates thereby pivoting the lever 168 in an oscillatory manner and the spring 176 acts against the cam 184 for retaining the cam follower 182 against the cam surface. The action of the cams 184 is such that the hooked edges 160 of the plates 154 will engage the inner surface of the side walls 16 when the cam follower 182 is at the valley or low spot of the cam 184 and the spring 176 will urge the hooked edges 160 inwardly into engagement with the inner edge of the side walls 16. As the cam follower engages the high portion of the cam 184, the hooked edge 160 will be retracted wherein the hooked edge will remain in engagement with the side wall 16 thereby moving the side wall 16 upwardly towards a vertical position substantially as illustrated schematically in Figure 18. The cams 184 are so arranged on the shaft 68 in timed relation to the driving means for the feeding mechanism that the side wall engaging mechanism 140 will not be actuated until a single blank is disposed on the upper surface of the platform 40, thereby assuring proper timed relation between the feeding mechanism and the side wall engaging mechanism. The movement of the side walls 16 toward their vertical position will move the end walls 22 in inclined position as illustrated in Figure 17 due to the particular construction of the extension 34 on the side walls 16 and the diagonal fold line 36 and the portion of the extension 34 which is adhesively secured to the end Wall 20.

Simultaneously with the completion with the upward movement of the side walls 16, means generally designated by the numeral 194 is actuated for folding the end walls 20 to their completed position. The construction of the means 194 for folding the end walls 20 to the finished position is best illustrated in Figures 9 and 11 and includes a pivotal arm 196 mounted at the lower end of the shorter depending bracket 100 by a pivot pin 198 wherein the lower end of each of the depending bracket arms is bifurcated for receiving the arm 196. The arm 196 is generally channel-shaped and inverted and is provided with a pivot pin 200 at the outer end thereof for connection to a link 202 having a turnbuckle adjustment'feature 204 to adjust the effective length of the link 202. The arm 196 is disposed longitudinally of the platform 40 and a cam roller 286 is mounted on the arm 196 by a fastening bolt 208 for engagement with a cam 210 mounted on the main driveshaft 68. The arm 196 is disposed above the cam 210 wherein the cam 210 will cause the arm 196 to oscillate about pivot pin 198. For retaining thecam follower roller 206 against the cam is a tension coil spring 212 having one end attached to a projecting pin 214 mounted on the arm 106 for moving the arm 106 downwardly so that the roller 206 will be retained in contact with the cam 210.

For engaging the end wall 20, a first plate 216 is provided and is attached to a transverse rod 218 pivotally mounted on the platform 40 by suitable bearing members 220.

A substantially bell crank member 222 is attached to one end of the transverse rod 218 with one end of the bell crank 222 being attached to the end of the connecting link 202 by a pivot pin 224. The outer end of the bell crank 222 receives a transverse rod 226 attached to the inner edge of a second plate 228 wherein the rod 226 is pivotally mounted on the outer end of the bell crank 222. As the cam 210 rotates, the arm 196 will move upwardly when the roller 206 is in engagement with the high part of the cam 210 substantially to the horizontal position illustrated in Figure 11. The spring 212 will urge the bell crank 222 and the plates 216 and 228 to a vertical position when the cam roller 206 is in engagement with the low part of the earn 210. This movement of the plate 216 and 228 to a vertical position will move the entire end wall construction 20 to a vertical position is in meshing engagement with the gear 230 wherein rotation of the gear 236 will rotate the transverse rod 226 thereby rotating the plate 228 about the axis formed by the rod 226. Initially, the rod 226 swings about the axis formed by the rod 218 wherein the gear 236 will roll around the gear 230 and will be disposed vertically thereabove when the plates 216 and 228 are moved to a vertical position by downward movement of the link 202 and pivotal movement of the bell crank 222 about the transverse rod 218. The outer end of the radially extending member 234 is attached to the upper end of an elongated link 240 by use of a screw threaded fastener 242 extending through a fiat sided spherical member 244 received in a segmental spherical recess 246 in the upper end of the link 240. The link 240 is longitudinally adjustable by a turnbuckle arrangement designated by the numeral 248 and is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 250 to the free end of an oscillating arm 252 which is pivotally connected by pivot pin 254 to the lower end of the elongated bracket secured to the undersurface of the platform 40. A cam member 256 mounted on the transverse driving shaft 68 is in engagement with a cam roller 258 attached to the arm 252 wherein oscillation of the arm 252 will be caused by rotation of the cam 256. A tension coil spring 260 is attached at one end to a projection 262 on the arm 252 and is attached to a screw threaded member 264 on the undersurface of the platform at the other end thereof wherein the spring 260 will urge the link 240 upwardly when the lower part of the cam 256 is in engagement with the cam roller 258 wherein the gear 230 will be caused to rotate in a clockwise manner thereby rotating the gear 236 in a counter clockwise manner for pivoting the plate 228 downwardly into overlying relation to the plate 216 thereby forcing the outer flap 26 downwardly into overlying relation to the inner flap 22 of the end wall 20. It is noted that the plate 228 is substantially equal in width to the outer flap 26 so that it will terminate in slightly spaced relation to the locking flap 30 to permit the locking fiap 30 to be disposed against the upper surface of the main body panel 14 substantially as illustrated in Figures 20 and 21.

When the outer flap 26 is moved to the position illustrated in Figure 21, the locking tabs 32 will be forced tightly into frictional engagement with the inner surfaces of the side walls 16 thereby securely locking the outer flap 26 against the innersurface of the inner flap 22 and thereby retaining the side walls 16 and end walls 20 in erected position.

The ejector means generally designated by the numeral 266 is provided for discharging completed boxes from the machine to any desired area. The ejector means 266 generally includes a motor 268 mounted on bracket member 270 supported on a plate 272. This construction is best illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 and Figure 12. The plate 272 is provided with a pair of upstanding ears 274 at each side thereof together with a central lug or ear 276, each of which is provided with a bearing 278 for pivotally mounting the plate 272 on a transverse rod 280 mounted on the under surface of the platform 40 by a pair of depending brackets 282 and screw threaded fasteners 284. This will permit free swinging movement of the plate 272 and the motor 268. Also mounted on the: plate 272 is a pair of longitudinally projecting supporting,

A radially 9 straps 2'86 extending under a longitudinal opening 288 in the platform 46. A first transverse shaft 290 is journalled in bearings 232 disposed in the support bars 286 and spacing sleeves 294 are provided for retaining belt pulleys 296 on opposite sides of the support bars 286. A second transverse rod 298 is provided in spaced relation to the transverse shaft 290 and is supported in a spacing sleeve 300 wherein the rod 298 is longitudinally adjustable in the slots 302 in the bars 286. The transverse rod 298 is in the form of a fastening member wherein the position of the rod 298 may be adjusted. Bearing spacers 302 are provided for supporting belt pulleys 304 in alignment with the belt pulleys 2% wherein the rod 298 may be tightened for adjustment without effecting the rotation of the'belt pulleys 304. An endless belt 306 is disposed in encircling relation to each of the pairs of aligned belt pulleys 296 and 304 and 'these belts 306 are normally disposed in generally coplanar and perhaps slightly below the upper surface of the platform 40 so that the cardboard blank 12 when deposited on the'upper surface of the platform 40 will 'not eject the same. For moving the conveyor formed by the belts 306 upwardly to a position above the platform surface, a pair of depending brackets 303 are provided on the support bars 286 between the belt pulleys 296 and 304 and the lower ends of the brackets 308 are provided with a transverse screw threaded fastener 310 supporting a cam follower roller 312 for engaging a cam 313 mounted on the main driveshaft 68 wherein the entire conveyor assembly including the support bars, belts 306, belt pulleys 296 and 304, the motor 268 and plate 272 will pivot about the transverse support rod 280. The shaft 290 is provided with a small drive belt pulley 314 in alignment with a drive belt pulley 316 driven by the motor 268 wherein an endless belt 318 encircles the pulley 314 and the pulley 316 for driving the conveying mechanism wherein completed boxes will be ejected from the machine. The cam 313 is so mounted on the shaft 68 in timed relation so that the conveying mechanism will be elevated after the box has been completely erected.

For assisting in the ejection of the completed boxes, a rubber coated roller 320 is mounted exteriorly of the second plates 223 on suitable supporting brackets 322 wherein the roller 320 may be powered by a small electric motor 324 and a V-belt drive 326 wherein the motor is supported on a suitable bracket 328.

In practical operation, the stacks of cardboard blanks are disposed between the guides 48 and the feeding mechanism 110 discharges a single blank onto the platform 40 at which time the side wall engaging mechanism 140 is actuated for moving the side wall 16 to a generally vertical position and generally inclining the end walls 20. The end wall engaging mechanism generally designated by' the numeral 194 is then actuated for completely erecting-the box after which the conveyor is elevated for discharging the erected boxes and the powered roller 320 assists in the discharge of the boxes. It will be understood that by the replacement of various elements, different sizes of boxes may be erected. Normally, a predetermined number of box bottoms will be erected and then certain of the elements will be changed and a similar number of box tops will be erected wherein the tops are slightly larger than the bottoms. Normally, the tops and bottoms may be erected without changing parts since the difference in size is only very small.

While the specific operation of the side wall engaging means and the end wall engaging means is set forth as being spring operated and cam retracted, the procedure may be reversed by reversing the orientation of the pivot elements so that the cam give a positive actuation of the side wall engaging means and the end wall engaging means to assure positive actuation thereof rather than the dependency upon the spring.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous -10 modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A machine for forming paperboardboxes from a preformed blank having a main body panel with inwardly folded side walls and outwardly extending end walls provided with a transverse fold line and laterally extending lock tabs with the ends of the side walls being interconnected with the inner surface of a portion of the end walls by a diagonal fold line to form a joint between the side and end walls, said machine comprising a supporting frame, means on said frame for supporting a plurality of box blanks, means for vertically feeding one'blank at-a time into the machine, means for supporting the singleblank, means for extending over the sides of the blank for engaging the inner edges of the inwardly extending side walls and moving the side walls to a vertical position thereby urging the end walls to an upwardly inclined position, means for engaging the 'end walls and moving them to a vertical position, means on said last mentioned means for engaging the outer portion of the end walls for folding the outer portion of the end walls into overlying relation to the inner portion of the end walls along the fold line and bringing the locking tabs into engagement with the inner surface of the side walls for retaining the end and side walls perpendicular to the main body panel, and means for discharging a completed box, said discharging means including a conveyor normally disposed below the main body panel and cam means for raising and lowering the conveyor for discharging completed boxes after the end wall engaging means has completed its cycle of operation.

2. A machine for forming paperboard boxes from a preformed blank having a main body panel with inwardly folded side walls and outwardly extending end walls provided with a transverse fold line and laterally extending lock tabs with the ends of the side walls being interconnected with the inner surface of a portion of the end walls by a diagonal fold line to form a joint between the side and end walls, said machine comprising a supporting frame, means on said frame for supporting a plurality of box blanks, means for vertically feeding one blank at a time into the machine, means for supporting the single blank, means for extending over the sides of the blank for engaging the inner edges of the inwardly extending side walls and moving the side walls to a vertical position thereby urging the end Walls to an upwardly inclined position, means for engaging the end walls and moving them to a vertical position, means on said last mentioned means for engaging the outer portion of the end walls for folding the outer portion of the end walls into overlying relation to the inner portion of the end walls along the fold line and bringing the locking tabs into engagement with the inner surface of the side walls for retaining the end and side walls perpendicular to the main body panel, and means for discharging a completed box, said blank supporting and feeding means including a pair of vertically upstanding shafts mounted adjacent each side of the frame and spaced for receiving a stack of blanks therebetween and providing for free vertical movement thereof, a generally circular support plate mounted on each shaft with each plate having a flat sided portion, means for rotating said shafts at the same speed, the flat sided portions of the plates permitting displacement of blanks downwardly between the shafts when facing inwardly and the circular portion thereof forming a support for a stack of blanks when disposed inwardly, and a cutter plate having a bevelled edge mounted eccentrically on each shaft in vertically spaced relation to the support plate with the major por tion thereof disposed in alignment with the flat sided portion of the support plate, the distance between the support plate and the cutter plate being substantially equal to the thickness of a blank whereby the cutter plate will separate the lowest blank from the stack of blanks and support the stack of blanks when the fiat sided portions of the support plate are disposed inwardly thereby permitting discharge of a single blank downwardly between the shafts.

. 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said beveled edge of the cutter plate is provided with a recessed portion for allowing complete support of the stack of blanks on the support plate when the recessed portions are in registry with the stack of blanks prior to engagement of the major portion of the cutter plate with the stack of blanks to assure the insertion of the cutter plate between the lowest and next to lowest blanks when the blanks are supported on the support plate.

I 4. The combination of claim 2 wherein each of said shafts have a tapered upper end adapter forming a centering device for a stack of blanks.

5. A machine for forming paperboard boxes from a preformed blank having a main body panel with inwardly folded side walls and outwardly extending end walls provided with a transverse fold line and laterally extending lock tabs with the ends of the side walls being interconnected with the inner surface of a portion of the end walls by a diagonal fold line to form a joint between the side and end walls, said machine comprising a supporting frame, means on said frame for supporting a plurality of box blanks, means for vertically feeding one blank at a time into the machine, means for supporting the single blank, means for extending over the side edges of the blank for engaging the inner edges of the inwardly extending side walls and moving the side walls to a vertical position thereby urging the end walls to an upwardly inclined position, means for engaging the outer suiface of the end walls and moving them to a vertical position, means on said last mentioned means for engaging the outer portion of the end walls for folding the outer portion of the end walls into overlying relation to the inner portion of the end walls along the fold line and bringing the locking tabs into engagement with the inner surface of the side walls for retaining the end and side Walls perpendicular to the main body panel, and means for discharging a completed box, said means for engaging the inner edges of the side walls including a pivotal arm mounted at each side of the frame, an inwardly extending plate mounted on the upper end of each arm, each of said extending plates having a hooked inner edge, spring means urging said arms inwardly for engaging the hooked end of the plate with the inner edge of the side wall, andcam means for moving said arm to retracted position thereby retracting the hooked edge of the plate engaged over the inner edge of side wall of the blank thereby raising the side walls to a generally vertical position.

6. A machine for forming paperboard boxes from a preformed blank having a main body panel with inwardly folded side walls and outwardly extending end walls provided with a transverse fold line and laterally extending lock tabs with the ends of the side walls being interconnected with the inner surface of a portion of the end walls by a diagonal fold line to form a joint between the side and end walls, said machine comprising a supporting frame, means on said frame for supporting a plurality of box blanks, means for vertically feeding one blank at a time into the machine, means for supporting the single blank, means for extending over the side edges of the blank for engaging the inner edges of the inwardly extending side walls and moving the side walls to a vertical position thereby urging the end walls to an upwardly inclined position, means for engaging the outer surface of the end walls and moving them to a vertical position, means on said last mentioned means for engaging the outer portion of the end walls for folding the outerportionof the end walls intooverlying relation to the inner portion of the end walls along the fold line and bringing the locking tabs into engagement with the inner surface of the side walls for retaining the end and side walls perpendicular to the main body panel, and means for discharging a completed box, said means for engaging the end walls including a first plate pivotally attached to said platform for movement about a first transverse horizontal axis, a second plate pivotally mounted on the outer edge of said first plate for pivotal movement about a second trans verse horizontal axis, spring means urging said first and second plates upwardly about the first axis to a vertical position, cam means for moving said firstand second plates about the first axis to a horizontal position, and cam means for moving said second plate about the second axis to a depending position alongside the inner surface of the first plate.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said first and second plates cam means includes a linkage system having a terminal end secured to the first plate.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said first plate is mounted on a shaft, a first gear rotatably mounted on said shaft, a second gear secured to said second plate and disposed in meshing engagement with the first gear, and linkage means interconnected with the cam means for rotating said first gear thereby rotating said second gear and pivoting said second plate to an overlying position alongside the first plate.

9. A machine for forming paperboard boxes from a preformed blank having a main body panel with inwardly folded side walls and outwardly extending end walls provided with a transverse fold line and laterally extending lock tabs with the ends of the side walls being interconnected with the inner surface of a portion of the end walls by a diagonal fold line to form a joint between the side and end walls, said machine comprising a supporting frame, means on said frame for supporting a plurality of box blanks, means for vertically feeding one blank at a time into the machine, means for supporting the single blank, means for extending over the sides of the blank for engaging the inner edges of the inwardly extending side walls and moving the side walls to a vertical position thereby urging the end walls to an upwardly inclined position, means for engaging the end walls and moving them to a vertical position, means on said last mentioned. means for engaging the outer portion of the end walls for folding the outer portion of the end walls into over-' lying relation to the inner portion of the end walls along the fold line and bringing the locking tabs into engagement with the inner surface of the side walls for retaining the end and side walls perpendicular to the main body panel, and means for discharging a completed box, said discharging means including a conveyor normally dis posed below the main body panel and cam means for raising and lowering the conveyor for discharging completed boxes after the end wall engaging means has completed its cycle of operation, said blank supporting and feeding means including a pair of vertically upstanding shafts mounted adjacent each side of the frame and, spaced for receiving a blank therebetween, a generally circular support plate mounted on each shaft having a fiat sided portion, means for rotating said shafts at the same speed, the flat sided portions of the plates permitting displacement of blanks downwardly between the shafts when disposed inwardly and the circular portion thereof forming a support for a stack of blanks when disposed inwardly, and a cutter plate having a beveled edge mounted eccentrically on said shaft in vertically spaced relation to the support plate with the major portion thereof disposed in alignment with the fiat sided portion of the support plate, the distance between the support plate and the cutter plate being substantially equal to the thickness of a blank whereby the cutter plate will separate the lowest blank from the stack of blanks and.

13 support: the stack of" blanks when the flat sided portions of the support plate are disposed inwardly thereby permitting discharge of asinglc blank downwardly between the shafts.

10. A machine for forming paperboard; boxes'from a preformed blank having a main body panel with inwardly folded side walls and outwardly extending end walls. pro-- vided with a transverse fold line' and laterally extending lock tabstwith the ends of the side walls being interconnected' with the. inner surface of a portion of the end walls by a diagonal fold line to form a joint between the side and end walls, said machine comprising a supporting frame, means on. said frame for supporting a plurality'of box blanks, means for vertically feeding one blank at a time into the machine, means for supporting the single blank, means for extending over the sides of the blank for engaging the inner edges of the inwardly extending side walls and moving the side walls to a vertical. position thereby urging the end walls to an upwardly inclined position, means for engaging the end walls and moving them to a vertical position, means on said last mentioned means for engaging the outer portion of the end walls for folding the outer portion of the end walls into overlying relation to the inner portion of the end walls along the fold line and bringing the locking tabs into engagement with the inner surface of the side Walls for retaining the end and side walls perpendicular to the main body panel, and means for discharging a completed, box, said discharging means including a, conveyor normally disposed below the main body panel and cam means 'for raising and lowering the conveyor for discharging completed boxes after the end wall engaging means has completed its cycle of operation, said blank supporting, and feeding means including a pair of vertically upstanding shafts mounted adjacent each side of theframe and spaced for receiving a blank therebetween, a generally circular support plate mounted on each shaft having a fiat sided portion, means for rotating said shafts at the same speed, the flat sided portions of the plates permitting displacement of blanks downwardly between the shafts when disposed inwardly and the circular portion thereof forming a support for a stack of blanks when disposed inwardly, and a cutter plate having a beveled edge mounted eccentrically on said shaft in vertically spaced relation to the support plate with the major portion thereof disposed in alignment with the fiat sided portion of the support plate, the distance between the support plate and the cutter plate being substantially equal to the thickness of a blank whereby the cutter plate will separate the lowest blank from the stack of blanks and support the stack of blanks when the flat sided portions of.

the support plate are disposed indwardly thereby permitting discharge of a single blank downwardly between the shafts, said beveled edge of the cutter plate having a recessed portion for registry with the stack of blanks prior to engagement of the major portion of the cutter plate with the stack of blanks to assure the insertion of the cutter plate between the lowest and next to lowest blanks when the blanks are supported on the support p ate.

II. A machine for forming paperboard boxes from a preformed blank having a main body panel with inwardly folded side walls and outwardly extending end walls: provided with a transverse fold line and laterally extending lock tabs with the ends of the side walls being interconnected with the inner surface of a portion of the endwalls by a diagonal fol-d line to form a joint between theside and end walls, said machine comprising a supporting frame, means on said frame for supporting a plurality of box blanks, means for vertically feeding one blank at a time into the machine, means for supporting the single. blank. means for extending over the sides of the blank for engaging the inner edges of the inwardly extending side walls and moving the side walls to a verticalposition thereby urging the end walls to an upwardly inclined position, means for engaging the end walls and moving them to a vertical position, means on said lastmentioned means for engaging the outer portion of the end walls for folding theouter portion of the end walls into overlying relation to the inner portion of the end- Walls along the fold line and bringing the locking tabs into engagement with the inner surface of the sidewalls for retaining the end and side walls perpendicular to the main body panel, and means for discharging a completed box, said discharging means including a conveyor nor mally disposed below the main body panel and cam means for raising and lowering the conveyor for discharging completed boxes after the end wall engaging means has completed itscycle of operation, said blank supporting; and feeding means including a pair of vertically upstanding shafts mounted adjacent each side of the frameandspaced for receiving a blank therebetween, a generally circular support plate mounted on each shaft having a fiat sided portion, means for rotating said shaftsat the same speed, the fiat sided portions of the plates permitting displacementof blanks downwardly between the shafts when disposed inwardly and the circular portion thereof forming a support for a stack of blanks when disposed inwardly, and a cutter plate having a' beveled edge mounted eccentrically on said shaft in vertically spaced relation to the support plate with the major por tion thereof disposed in alignment with the fiat sided portion of the Support plate, the distance between the support plate and. the cutter plate being substantially equal to the thickness of a blank whereby the cutter plate will separate the lowest blank from the stack of blanks and support the stack of blanks when the flat sided portions of the support plate are disposed inwardly thereby permitting discharge of a single blank down wardly between the shafts, said beveled edge of the cutter plate having a recessed portion for registry with the stack of blanks prior to engagement of the major portion of the cutter plate with the stack of blanks to assure the insertion of the cutter plate between the lowest and next to lowest blanks when the blanks are supported on the supportplate, each of said shafts have a tapered upper end adapter forming a centering device for a stack of blanks.

12. A machine for forming paperboard boxes from, as

preformed blank having a main body panel with inwardly folded side walls and outwardly extending end walls provided with a transverse fold line and laterally extending lock tabs with the ends of the side walls being interconnected. with the inner surface of a portion of the end, wall by a diagonal fold line to form a joint between the: side and end walls, said machine comprising a supporting,

frame, means onsaid frame for supporting a plurality of box blanks, means for feeding one blank at a time into the. machine, means for supporting the single blank, means for extending over the sides of. the blank for engaging the-- inner edges of the inwardly extending side walls and moving the side walls to a vertical position thereby urging the end walls to an upwardly inclined position, means for engaging the end walls and moving them to a vertical posi.

veyor normally disposed below the main body panel and cam means for raising and lowering the conveyor for discharging completed boxes after the end wall engaging; means has completed its cycle of operation, said blankv supporting and feeding means including a pair of vertically upstanding shafts mounted adjacent each side of the. frame and spaced for receiving a blank therebetween, a

generallycircular support plate mounted on each shaft having a flat sided portion, means for rotating said shafts at the same speed, the flat sided portions of the plates permitting displacement of blanks downwardly between the shafts when disposed inwardly and the circular portion thereof forming a support for a stack of blanks when disposed inwardly, and a cutter plate having a beveled edge mounted eccentrically on said shaft in vertically spaced relation to the support plate with the major portion thereof disposed in alignment with the flat sided portion of the support plate, the distance between the support plate and the cutter plate being substantially equal to the thickness of a blank whereby the cutter plate will separate the lowest blank from the stack of blanks and support the stack of blanks when the flat sided portions of the support plate are disposed inwardly thereby permitting discharge of a single blank downwardly between the shafts, said bevelled edge of the cutter plate having a recessed portion for registry with the stack of blanks prior to engagement of the major portion of the cutter plate with the stack of blanks to assure the insertion of the cutter plate between the lowest and next to lowest blanks when the blanks are supported on the support plate, each of said shafts have a tapered upper end adapter forming a centering device for a stack of blanks, said means for engaging the inner edges of the side walls including a pivotal arm mounted at each side of the frame, an inwardly extending plate mounted on the upper end of each arm, each of said extending plates having a hooked inner edge, spring means urging said arms to an extended position, and cam means for moving said arm to retracted position thereby engaging the hooked edge of the plate over the inner edge of side wall of the blank.

13. A machine for forming paperboard boxes from a preformed blank having a main body panel with inwardly folded side Walls and cutwardly extending end walls provided with a transverse fold line and laterally extending lock tabs with the ends of the side walls being interconnected with the inner surface of a portion of the end wall by a diagonal fold line to form a joint between the side and end walls, said machine comprising a supporting frame, means on said frame for supporting a plurality of box blanks, means for feeding one blank at av time into the machine, means for supporting the single blank, means for extending over the sides of the blank for engaging the inner edges of the inwardly extending side walls and moving the side walls to a vertical position thereby urging the end walls to an upwardly inclined position, means for engaging the end walls and moving them to a vertical position, means on said last mentioned means for engaging the outer portion of the end walls for folding the outer portion of the end walls into overlying relation to the inner portion of the end walls along the fold line and bringing the locking tabs into engagement with the inner surface of the side walls for retaining the end and side walls perpendicular to the main body panel, and means for discharging a completed box, said discharging means including a conveyor normally disposed below the main body panel and cam means for raising and lowering the conveyor for discharging completed boxes after the end wall engaging means has completed its cycle of operation, said blank supporting and feeding means including a pair of vertically upstanding shafts mounted adjacent each side of the frame and spaced for receiving a blank therebetween, a generally circular support plate mounted on each shaft having a flat sided portion, means for rotating said shafts at the same speed, the fiat sided portions of the plates permitting displacement of blanks downwardly between the shafts when disposed inwardly and the circular portion thereof forming a support for a stack of blanks when disposed inwardly, and a cutter plate having a beveled edge mounted eccentrically on said shaft in vertically spaced relation to the support plate with the major portion thereof disposed in alignment with the flat sided portion of the support plate, the distance between the support plate and the cutter plate being substantially equal to the thickness of a blank whereby the cutter plate will separate the lowest blank from the stack of blanks and support the stack of blanks when the fiat sided portions of the support plate are disposed inwardly thereby permitting discharge of a single blank downwardly between the shafts, said bevelled edge of the cutter plate having a recessed portion for registry with the stack of blanks prior to engagement of the major portion of the cutter plate with the stack of blanks to assure the insertion of the cutter plate between the lowest and next to lowest blanks when the blanks are supported on the support plate, each of said shafts have a tapered upper end adapter forming a centering device for a stack of blanks, said means for engaging the inner edges of the side walls including a pivotal arm mounted at each side of the frame, an inwardly extending plate mounted on the upper end of each arm, each of said extending plates having a hooked inner edge, spring means urging said arms inwardly for engaging the hooked endof the plate with the inner edge of the side wall, and cam means for moving said arm to retracted position thereby retracting the hooked edge of the plate engaged over the inner edge of side wall of the blank thereby raising the side walls to a generally vertical position, said means for engaging the end walls including a first plate pivotally attached to said platform for movement about a first transverse horizontal axis, a second plate pivotally mounted on the outer edge of said first plate for pivotal movement about a second transverse horizontal axis, spring means urging said nrst and second plates upwardly about the first axis to a vertlcal position, cam means for moving said first and second plates about the first axis to a horiontal position, and cam means for moving said second plate about the second axis to a depending position alongside the inner surface of the first plate.

14. A feeding mechanism for a folding box set-up machine comprising a supporting frame, a pair of vertically upstanding shafts mounted in spaced parallel relation on the frame and spaced for receiving a stack of blanks therebetween and providing for free vertical movement thereof, a generally circular support plate mounted on each shaft, each plate having a fiat sided portion, means for rotating said shafts at the same speed, the fiat sided portions of the plates being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of the blanks thereby permitting displacement of blanks downwardly between the shafts when disposed inwardly and the circular portion thereof forming a support for a stack of blanks when disposed inwardly, and a cutter blade having a beveled edge mounted radially eccentrically on each shaft in vertically spaced relation to the plate with the major portion having the greatest radius disposed in alignment with the fiat sided portion of the support plate, the distance between the support plate and the cutter blade being substantially equal to the thickness of a blank whereby the cutter blade will insert itself between and separate the lowest blank from the next lowest blank in the stack of blanks and support the stack of blanks when the flat sided portions of the support plate are disposed inwardly thereby permitting discharge of a single blank freely downwardly between the plates and shafts.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said beveled edge of the cutter blade is provided with a radial recessed portion for allowing complete support of the stack of blanks on the support plate when the recessed portions are in registry with the stack of blanks prior toengagement of the major portion of the cutter blade with the stack of blanks to assure the insertion of the cutter plate between the lowermost and next to the lowermost blanks when the blanks are supported on the support plate, the trailing edge of the recessed portion being flared outwardly in a smooth curve with the curve and bevel guiding the blade between the two lowest blanks.

16, An ejecting mechanism for discharging a set-up box run of the conveyor above the supporting surface forengagement with the bottom of the set-up box, and means for driving the conveyor thereby moving the set-up box ofi of the supporting surface.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said means for raising and lowering the conveyor is cam actuated and timed for raising the conveyor after the machine has completed the setting up operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Larson Jan. 6, 1920 Gregg Mar. 2, 1920 Benson May 9, 1933 Reifsnyder et a1 Dec. 30, 1941 Carew Dec. 30, 1947 Perilli June 6, 1950 Murdoch et a1 Oct. 27, 1953 Perilli May 24, 1955 Smith Oct. 18, 1955 

